Soil renovator



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO-R. @fo/Gf H. WOODS AToR'NEY l Jly 23, 1935.

G. H. wooDs SOIL RENOVATOR Filed Feb.. 15; 1934 5f sheets-sheet 2 JNVENTOR. GERGE H. WDS

ATTORNEY vJuly 23,1935. GH, WOODS 2,008,891

soIL RENovAToR Filed Feb. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN1/EMDR GEORGE H. [f1/0005 Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 2,008,891 son. aENovA'roa George H. Woods, San Diego, Calif. Application February 15, 1934, Serial No. 711,334

22, Claims.

-This invention relates to an agricultural implement. More speciiically the invention has to do with an improvement in soil renovat'ors wherein a ilame or blast is ejected rearwardly of the 5 soil treating tool as it is drawn thru the soil and caused, from the force of the blast, to penetrate into the loosened soil.

Important objects .of the invention are to utilize a, device of the above character in orchards for aiding in; (1), the extermination of pests such as red spiders, ants, gophers, foul vegetation and deleterious growths; (2), the extermination in gardens of pernicious insects such as cut worms, nematodes, snails and deleterious growths; (3), the extermination in grain fields of wild radish, mustard seed, other foul seeds, cut worms, bore worms and disease germs; and (4), the extermination in cotton fields of boll weevil.

A further object of the invention is to utilize the heat of combustion to warm the soil whereby to promote a more rapid growth of vegetation. Especially has this proved to be of merit in raising the temperature of soils where garden vegetables are being grown.

Yet another object is to provide an implement which may .be idrawn over the ground behind a sub-soiler and wherein the soil treating tools which are caused to penetrate the soil in addiy tion to pulverizing it, produce an opening where- W iiil the larve of insects which 11e immediately below the earths crust, are caused to be disturbed and destroyed in a superior manner, and which it would be impossible to accomplish otherwise. Other objects, including providing an article of manufacture in the soil treating tool, per se, will hereinafter appear when the following description is read in the light of the drawings `wherein-- Fig. l is a perspective view of the soil renovator; Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. d; Fig. d is a fragmentary vertical mid-section thru one of the soil treating tools; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5--5 of Fig.. f2; and Fig. 6- is a section on line tif-6 of Fig. d.

Referring in detail to the drawings i and Z 'represent side traine carrying members which at the forward or draft end of the device are brought into close proximity for a short distance'to form d@ a tongue like beam t. Rearwardly of their front J portions these carrying members diverge to such an extent as to have the appearance, approximately, of a huge expanded Y. Said carrying members are preferably constructed of angle iron beams whose nanges extend upwardly and outwardly from the vertices which are arranged adjacent each other.

The bottom ilanges of the members t and 2 at their rear'ends are joined together' by means of a bent pipe 4. 'I'he ends of said pipes are at- 5 tened and welded to the under side of the horizontal flanges of the angle irons. In the vertical anges of the angle beams, at their forward ends, are drilled holes 5 in which to fasten a draft-iron whereby the device may be attached to a tractor i@ or draft vehicle for propulsion.

The front end of the frame just described is supported'by means of a swivelling roller 6 and the rear end is supported by means of a drag element l. The roller 6 is adjustably mounted, 15 for swivel movement, upon the angle beams aforesaid by means of a shaft 8 journalled in the sleeve 9, said sleeve being supported between and fastened to the vertical'anges of the angle iron beams. 20

The drag element 1 is iixedly mounted upon the shaft I2. Said shaft is mounted. in the vertical flanges of the angle iron beams at a point slightly in the rear of the pipe d.

To the pipe t is fastened a bracket IS, and to 25 the shaft I 2 is fastened a bracket lli. The bracket M is provided with a pair of arms I5 and 'it between which is mountedathreaded bearing block il by means of the shaft I8. Owing to the pre viously .described positioning of pipe 4 and shaft 30.

l2 these lbrackets are brought into proper relative positions.

The bracket i3 is provided with a bearing thru which is extended one end of the shaft 2t, and on that endl on either side of the bearing iid 35 are mounted collars 2i and Z2 for maintaining the shaft 2@ in xed relation thereto. The otherend of theshaft 2d is threaded and screwed thru the block il and on the terminal portion of the threaded end is mounted a wheel 23 for manually t@ operating the shaft 2li to rotationally adjust the shaft i2 and thereby vary the inclination of the drag element with relation to the device as a whole.

The drag element 'l comprises end arms 2d and 45 25 which are xed to the rock shaft i?. just inside the vertical flanges of the angle members i and'Z. Said arms are bowed downwardly and areconnected to each other by means of the transverse bars 2l and 2t. As said bars contact 50 with the cultivated soil they serve to even the surface thereof in a manner that is well known.

The shaft l2 extends thru the vertical flanges of the angle beams to accommodate the mounting thereon of the collars 29. and the latter collars.

together with the bearings 26 of the end arms cooperate to strengthen the vertical anges of the angle beams where they terminate at the rear.

On the side frame-carrying members I mount the carriage 30 to which all' of the soil treating tools 3| are fastened. This carriage comprises a front shaft 32 and a rear shaft 33 and on said shafts between the spacers 34 and the co1- lars 35 I mount the bars 36. Upon the latter bars are mounted the soil treating tools 3| most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The ends of the shaft 32 are fastened to the L-shaped brackets 31 and the ends of the shaft 33 are fastened to the L-shaped brackets 36.

or stems 43 slidably mounted in the bearings 44v which are fastened to the bars 36 by means of the machine boltsl 45 and the clamp bolts 46. The bearings 44 are provided with caps 41, see Fig. 3, said caps being swingable about the pin 48 as an axis when the handle 49 is operated to partially unscrew the bolt 46 from the nut 58.

The tools 3| are provided with parts 5| which penetrate the soil, said parts each having a wedge shape portion with convex sides and an edge portion 52 which performs a cutting action. The part 5| is providedwith a combustion chamber 53 and there are a plurality of apertures or flame vents 54 extending from said chamber thru the also an intake 59 extending thru the wall of the bearing 44, which registers with ,the slot 58 whatever the position to which the tool may be adv justed in its bearing. The intake 58 is threaded partway, as indicated by the numeral 68, to accommodate the screwing thereunto of the valve assembly 6|, said assembly being illustrated in Figs. I and 2.

Abattery of five rows of soil treating tools is shown, and each row consistingof four tools.- In Fig. 2 the tools arearranged in a stepped formation, in which the steps deepen from front to rear. This arrangement insures a thorough treatment of the soil, to such an extent at least as to exterminate or free it of pestsv and extraneous matter.

A fuel tank 82 of relatively large proportions is mounted transversely upon the angle iron beams and 2 and is suitably held in position by straps 63 which are connected in any suitable manner to `wooden holsters 84 fastened to the vertical legs of the side frame-carrying members.

The fuel tank 62 is provided with a filler cap 65 and a fuel supply pipe 66.. It is desirable to equip said tank with a hand operated pump 61 and a gage 68 to register the pressure in said tank. The fuel in the tank is forced thru the fuel valve 68 into the fuel pipe 66 whence it is conducted into the gas tank 16 where it is transformed into a gas. The gas tank'10 may be of any selected type of gas producer as, for example, it may operate on the order of the Coleman stove. Since no claim is laid to the gas producer per se, any type desired may be selected.

In order to supply the fuel from the tank 18 to the soil treating tools 3| I provide a gas pump 1| attached to the vertical flange of the angle iron just rearwardly of the tank 62, and I connect said pump 1| to the tank 1|) by means of the supply pipe 12. The pump 1| is operated by means of the shaft 13 connectedl to the motor 14. The motor is fastened to the vertical leg of the angle iron 2 opposite the pump 1 I, said motor receiving its fuel from the tank 62 thru the supply line 15.

The gas from the tank 10 owsthru the pipe 12 into the pump 1|, thence thru the intake port 16 and out thru the discharge port 11 into the flexible hose 18 Afor distribution. Leading from the pipe 12 is a by-pass line 12d which also discharges into the flexible hose for supplying gas to the pilots 8|. In said line is installed va bypass valve 19. 'I'he flexible hose 18 is connected to a pipe fitting thru which the gas is distributed both to the soil treating tools 3| and to the pilots 8|. One of the pilots 8| with its regulatine,r valve 82 is shown in Fig. l, and a row of them is also shown in Fig. 2.

Screwed into the fitting 88 is a supply line 83, from which leadfour branches 84,85, 86 and 81 for supplying gas to the several rows `of soil treating tools by means of the regulating valves referred to in a general sense by the numerall. Screwed also into said fitting 80 is the gas supply distributing pipe 88 thru which gas'ows to the pilots 8|. To the pipe 88 is also secured a tting 83, and into said fitting is screwed a supply line 90, similar to the line 83. From said supply 90 also lead four pipe branches which are arranged similar to the four branches 84, 85, 86 and 81, but are placed far enough beneath so that when the regulating valves 82 are screwed thereonto, the pilots 8| leading from said valves will be in close proximity to the part 5| in order that the gas flowing from the parts 5| will be ignited by the several pilots. One example of a juxtaposed pilot is shown in Fig. 1. y

v In Fig. 2 I also show one complete branch line indicated bythe'numeral 9|. Said line is fastened 4by means of the bracket 92 to lthe plate 93 which runs from side to side of the frame and is connected .upon the horizontal flanges of4 the side carrying members. 'Ihe plate 93 is fragmentarily shown in Fig. 1 and the connections described in relation to the branch line 9| equally applies for the remaining three branches.

'Ihe operation of the device is believed to be obvious in view of the above description.

I claim:

1. A soil penetrating and Vtreating tool provided with a plurality of flame apertures in the portion of the tool which penetrates the ground.

2. A soil penetrating implement provided with a series of rearwardly directed apertures, and means for ejecting a name thru said apertures into the soil cultivatedby said implement. A

3. A soil treating tool having a blast chamber, andl a series of apertures leading therefrom, and

. reservoir for fluid fuel mounted on said frame, a plurality of soil treating tools having chambers apertures in the penetrating portion mounted on said frame, and means carried by said frame for ejecting a. hot blast from said tools thru said apertures while they perform a cultivating action upon the soil as they are drawn therethru.

6. In a soil renovator implement, a frame, a soil treating tool having flame apertures normally below the ground adjustably mounted on said frame, and means carried by said frame for ejecting a flame under pressure to the soil from said tool as it is caused to penetrate the soil.

7. In a soil renovator, a frame, and a soil penetrating tool mounted on said frame, there being a combustion chamber in said tool and holes leading. from said combustion chamber to points beneaththe surface of the soil during the operation .of said tool. g

8. A soil renovator, comprising a frame, a reservoir for fluid fuel mounted on said frame, a plurality of soil treating tools having flame apertures lin that portion of the tool which normally lies beneath the surface of the ground carried by said frame ladapted for expelling a dame from said tools as said ytools cultivate the soll, and conduit means for supplying fuel from said tank to said tools.

9. A soil renovator,v comprising a frame, a

with flame apertures `carriedby said frame adapted for expelling a flame from said tools as saidl tools cultivate the soil, and valve controlled conduit means for supplying fuel from said tank to said tools.

10. A soil renovator, comprising a. frame, a reservoir for fluid fuel mounted on said frame, a plurality of soil treating tools carried by said frame and having chambers with apertures leading therefrom adapted for expelling a flame as said tools cultivate the soil, and conduit means for supplying fuel under pressure from saidtank to said tools.

11. An agricultural implement, comprising a frame adapted to have traction applied thereto, a plurality of soil treating tools having charnbers with apertures leading therefrom mounted 1 on vsaid frame, means ca ried by saidgframe for supplying a gas to the c amber of said 601s and thence thru said apertures tothe soil-as said tools perform a cultivating action to the. soil thru. which they are drawn, and a drag element for supporting the rear end of said frame.

12. lA soil treating implement having, in combination, a tool having a combustion chamber for loosening the soil, traction means t0 move said toolithru the soil, and means to direct burning fuel from said combustion chamber into the soil as it is loosened by said tool.

13. As an article of manufacture a soil treating tool comprising a part having a cutting edge, a

combustion chamber contained in said part and having apertures extending from said chamber to the outside of said part, and a shank provided with a bore leading into said chamber, there bein g an inlet communicating with said bore.

14. As an article of manufacture a soil treating tool comprising a part having a wedge shaped portion with convex sides, a combustion chamber being contained in said tool, there being apertures extending from said chamber thru the tool rearwardly of the Wedge-shaped portion thereof, and a shank provided with a bore leading into said chamber, there being an inlet communicating with said bore.

l5. A soil penetrating and treating tool provided with a chamber and having a plurality of apertures leading rearwardly therefrom for ejecting a-flame therethru.

16. A soil renovator comprising a frame, a reservoir for fluid fuel mounted on said frame, a'

plurality of soil ftreating tools carried by said frame and having chambers provided with apertures f or expelling a flame from said tools as they are drawn thru the soil, and conduit means for supplying fuel from said reservoir to said tools.

.17'. A soil renovator, comprising a frame, a reservoir for fluid fuel mounted on said frame, a plurality of soil treating tools carried by said frame and having chambers with apertures leading therefrom for expelling a llame from said tools as said tools cultivate the soil, and valve controlled conduit means for supplying fuel from said reservoir to said tools.

18. A soil renovator, comprising a frame, a reservoir for iiuid fuel mounted on said frame, a plurality of' soil treating tools carried by said frame and having chambers with apertures leading therefrom for expelling a ame as said tools cultivate the soil, and conduit means for supplying fuel under pressure from said reservoir to said tools.

19. A soil treating tool comprising a part having a cutting edge for dividing the soil, there being a chamber inl said part and openings leading therefrom, and vanes on said part in advance of said openings. v

420. A soil treating tool ing a cutting edge for dividing the soil, there being a. chamber insaid part and openings leading der pressure into said chamber and thence t said apertures into the soil thru-which said tool is drawn.

- GERGE H. Woons.

:leading therefrom, and

comprising a part hav- 

